Canada became McDonald’s first market outside the United States in 1967.
McDonald’s opened its first Canadian restaurant in Richmond, British Columbia, establishing the company’s international expansion. Canada was geographically close to the United States, but the opening marked an important shift from a domestic restaurant chain toward a global brand.
The Canadian launch preceded McDonald’s entry into many other major markets. The company later adapted parts of its menus, advertising, and operations to local conditions while retaining core visual elements such as the Golden Arches and the McDonald’s name.
Canada is sometimes confused with Puerto Rico in discussions of early international expansion. Puerto Rico received a McDonald’s restaurant in 1967 as well, but Canada is generally identified as the company’s first international market outside the United States.